In order to become a Florida notary and receive a Florida notary public commission, a notary applicant must:

Meet the eligibility requirements provided in the previous section.

Satisfactorily complete at least a 3-hour notary educational course that includes electronic notarization, within one year prior to the application. This requirement may be satisfied by completing, at no cost, the course offered by the Florida Department of State and the Governor’s Office on the internet at http://notaries.dos.state.fl.us/education/index.html

Complete an application packet which may be obtained from one of the bonding agencies that have been approved to electronically submit application information to the Division of Corporations, Notary Commissions Section or downloaded from their site.

Complete forms DS-DE 77 and DS-DE 76 from the application packet and must return them to the Division through one of the approved bonding agencies either in paper format or in an electronic format, along with a $39 check or money order made payable to the Department of State.

Lastly, after the issuance of a notary public commission, it will be sent to the sending bonding agency for their distribution to the notary.

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Can a non-resident become a notary in Florida?

No. A notary applicant who is not a legal resident of Florida does not qualify for a Florida notary public commission.

Is a Florida notary bond required to become a notary in Florida?

Yes. A Florida notary bond in the amount of $7,500 is required for new and renewing notaries public. To purchase a Florida notary bond, visit the American Association of Notaries website at www.floridanotaries.com or call (800) 721-2663 or click here.

Do I need an Florida notary errors & omissions insurance?

Optional. Errors and Omission insurance is designed to protect notaries public from liability against unintentional notarial mistakes or omissions that resulted in financial damages to the public or a document signer. The American Association of Notaries recommends Florida notaries public to purchase an errors and omissions insurance policy for their protection against liability. For additional information, visit our website at www.usnotaries.com or call (800) 721-2663 or click here.

How much does it cost to become a notary in Florida?

To become a notary in Florida, an applicant must include a $39 filing fee when submitting his or her notary application for appointment or reappointment, plus the cost of the required official stamp, and the educational course offered by an approved educational vendor. No commission fee is required from a veteran who has served in wartime service and who has a disability rating of 50%.

How long is the term of a notary public commission in Florida?

The term of office of a Florida notary public is four years, commencing with the date specified in the notary public commission. However, a notary’s commission may be rendered void by resignation, death, revocation, or when the notary public ceases to reside in Florida.

Where can I perform notarial acts?

A Florida notary has statewide jurisdiction and may perform notarial acts in any county at any location in Florida. Likewise, a Florida notary public may not perform notarial acts outside this state.

The application process for reappointment is exactly the same as for a first-time appointment. The Department of State suggests that Florida renewing notaries submit their notary public commission applications approximately six months in advance of their current commission expiration date.

Are there any exams or notary course requirements to become or renew your Florida notary commission?

A first-time applicant for a notary public commission must submit proof that the applicant has, within one year prior to the application, completed at least three hours of interactive or classroom instruction, including electronic notarization, and covering the duties of the notary public. The educational courses satisfying this requirement may be offered by any public or private sector person or entity registered with the Executive Office of the Governor and must include a core curriculum approved by that office. This requirement may also be satisfied by completing, at no cost, the course offered by the Florida Department of State and the Governor’s Office online at http://notaries.dos.state.fl.us/education/index.html or by clicking here. After completing the educational course, the notary applicant will receive a certificate of completion which can be submitted with the application for appointment.

Do I need to purchase a notary stamp in Florida?

Florida law requires all notaries public to use a rubber black inked stamp to authenticate all notarial acts. Section 117.05(3)(a) of the Florida Statutes provides the legal specifications regarding the layout and the information required on all notary official seals.

Required Elements: The notary public seal must contain the following elements:

The name of the notary public

The date of expiration of the commission of the notary public

The commission number assigned to the notary public

The words “Notary Public”

The words “State of Florida

The dimensions of the rubber stamp are not specified by the Florida statutes. No emblem or symbol is required, or is it prohibited. However, the use of the Great Seal of the State of Florida on the notary stamp is strictly prohibited.

An impression-type seal may be used in addition to the rubber stamp seal, but the rubber stamp seal shall be the official seal for use on paper documents, and the impression-type seal may not be substituted therefor. For electronic notarization, a notary must affix the information contained in his or her notary seal but does not need to affix the image of the physical notary seal. See Florida Statutes, Section 117.021(3).

Is a notary journal required in Florida?

No. Florida law does not require a Florida notary public to record his or her notarial acts in a journal. However, the Governor’s Task Force on Notaries Public and the American Association of Notaries strongly recommend that Florida notaries record their notarial acts in a notary journal as a protective measure against liability. For Florida notary supplies, visit our website at www.usnotaries.com or call (800) 721-2663 or click here.

How much can a Florida notary charge for performing notarial acts?

Florida notary fees are set by statute. The maximum allowable fees that a Florida notary public can charge for notarial acts are listed below:

Acknowledgments - $10.00

Oaths or affirmations - $10.00

Jurats - $10.00

Protests - $10.00

Copy Certifications - $10.00

Solemnizing a Marriage - $30.00

Verifying a VIN - $20.00

What notarial acts can a Florida notary public perform?

A Florida notary public is authorized to perform six notarial acts:

Take acknowledgments

Administer oaths or affirmations

Attest to photocopies

Solemnize marriages

Verify vehicle identification numbers (VINs)

Certify the contents of a safe-deposit box

Can I perform electronic notarizations in Florida?

The Florida Statutes, Title X, Chapter 117, Section 117.021 authorizes electronic notarizations. The Department of State adopted rules that set forth the definitions and notary signature for electronic notarizations. The 2016 new administrative rule stipulates that any public key certificate or electronic notary system that is used to affix the notary’s electronic signature and seal information shall be issued at the third or higher level of assurance as defined by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-63 (NIST 800-63), Electronic Authentication Guideline Version 1.0.2, which is incorporated by referenced in Rule 1N-5.002. See Florida Administrative Code 1N-5.001 and 1N-5.002. First and foremost, Florida law mandates that the document signer must personally appear before the Florida notary public physically close enough to see, hear, communicate, and give identification credentials to each other without reliance on an electronic device such as a telephone, computer, video camera, or facsimile machine at the time of the performance of the notarial act. A video image or other form of non-physical representation is not a personal appearance in front of a notary public pursuant to Florida law.

How do I change my address?

A Florida notary is required to notify the Department of State of any change of his or her business address, home telephone number, business telephone number, home address, or criminal record within 60 days after such change.

How do I change my name on my notary commission?

A Florida notary who lawfully changes his or her name during the term of the commission must request an amended notary commission from one of the approved bonding agencies and submit (1) a completed notice of name change form (DS-DE 77A); (2) his or her current commission; (3) rider to current notary public bond; and (4) a $25 check or money order payable to Department of State. In addition, a notice of name change form must be sent to the Division via electronic transfer. To file a name change, visit the Department of State website at http://notaries.dos.state.fl.us/appdwnld.html or click here. A Florida notary public may continue to perform notarial acts in his or her former name until the amended commission is received.

Death/Resignation/Removal:

A Florida notary public or his or her representative is required to send a signed letter to the Governor’s office if the Notary: (1) no longer maintains residence in Florida during the entire term of appointment; (2) no longer wishes to hold the office of notary public; (3) is deceased; and (4) is duty-bound to resign by court order or the Department of State’s revocation process. If any of the above-mentioned events take place, the notary or his or her representative must immediately destroy the notary’s official seal.

Using the phrase “notario” or “notario publico” to advertise notary services

Overcharging for notary services in excess of fees authorized by law

Notarizing a document without the signer being present at the time of the notarization

Using a facsimile signature stamp unless the notary has a physical disability

Notarizing blank forms

Providing notary services for a signer who has been adjudicated mentally incapacitated by a court

Providing notary services for a signer who is mentally incapable of understanding the nature and effect of the signing of such document

Providing notary services to a signer who does not speak or understand the English language

Changing anything in the document after it has been signed by anyone

Amending the notarial certificate after the execution of the notarization

Notarizing a signature on a document unless the notary personally knows the signer or has established the identity of the signer through satisfactory evidence of identification

Attesting to the trueness of a photocopy of a recordable document

Signing under any other name than his or her commissioned name

Notarizing a document that is incomplete

Notarizing a document that contains blank spaces with the intent to be completed later without the presence of the notary public

Performing notarial acts for immediate family members

Notarizing a document in which he or she has a financial or beneficial interest in or is named as a party to the transaction

Notarizing his or her own signature

Guaranteeing a signature with his or her notary seal

Certifying the authenticity of objects, such as art or sports memorabilia

Judging contests or certifying contest results

Certifying a person’s residency or United States citizenship status

Making a material false statement on the application for a notary public commission

Providing misleading advertising relating to notary public services

Failing to report a change in business or home address or telephone number

Not providing documentation to amend his or her notary commission after a lawful name change within the specified period of time

Committing fraud, misrepresentation, or any intentional violation of Chapter 117

Taking the acknowledgment of a blind person without reading the document to the blind person

Correcting mistakes in a notarial certificate after the performance of the notarial act and without the presence of the document signer

Affixing his or her notary signature to a blank form of affidavit or certificate of acknowledgment and delivering that form to another person with the intent for it to be used as an affidavit acknowledgment

Not maintaining the required notary surety bond

Notarizing a document when the notary knew and suspected that the transaction was illegal, false, or deceptive

Certifying a translation of a document

Solemnizing a marriage without being licensed to perform marriages by law

Official notary misconduct:

Florida notaries public, who commit official misconduct, may be subject to criminal liability, civil liability, disciplinary action, and other official matters.

No person shall obtain or use a notary public commission in other than his or her legal name, and it is unlawful for a notary public to notarize his or her own signature. Anyone who violates this provision is guilty of a felony of the third degree.

Any person who acts as or otherwise willfully impersonates a notary public while not lawfully appointed and commissioned to perform notarial acts is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Any person who unlawfully possesses a notary public official seal or any papers or copies relating to notarial acts is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Any notary public who knowingly acts as a notary public after his or her notary commission has expired is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

A notary public who falsely or fraudulently takes an acknowledgment of an instrument as a notary public or who falsely or fraudulently makes a certificate as a notary public or who falsely takes or receives an acknowledgment of the signature on a written instrument is guilty of a felony of the third degree.

A notary who notarizes the signature of a signer who is not in the presence of the notary at the time of the execution of the notarization is guilty of a civil infraction, punishable by a penalty not exceeding $5,000.

Legal disclaimer: The American Association of Notaries makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this page. Information this page is not intended as legal advice. We are not attorneys. We do not pretend to be attorneys. Though we will sometimes provide information regarding federal laws and statutes and the laws and statutes of each state, we have gathered the information from a variety of sources. We do not warrant the information gathered from those sources. It is your responsibility to know the appropriate laws governing your state. Notaries are advised to seek the advice of an attorney in their state if they have legal questions about how to notarize.

Notary bonds and errors and omissions insurance policies provided by this insurance agency, the American Association of Notaries, Inc., are underwritten by Western Surety Company, Universal Surety of America, or Surety Bonding Company of America, which are subsidiaries of CNA Surety. American Association of Notaries, is owned by Kal Tabbara, licensed insurance agent.